Gratitude with Grief: Holding Both in Catholic Life

About this episode

This episode explores the coexistence of grief and gratitude in Catholic life, emphasizing the importance of honoring both emotions.

Can you be grateful while grieving? Should you even try? In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Adam Cross tackles one of the most challenging tensions in Catholic spiritual life: how to honor our grief while maintaining gratitude for God's goodness. Drawing on Scripture, theological insights from Father Raniero Cantalamessa and Dr. Shan Tobin, and his clinical experience, Adam explores: Why "just be grateful" advice can feel dismissive (even when well-intentioned) The biblical story of St. Paul singing hymns in prison How God became man to suffer with us, not just console us from a distance The connection between Mary's trust and her joy Practical ways to hold space for both grief and gratitude in your own life and with others This isn't about dismissing pain or forcing positivity. It's about recognizing that grief and gratitude aren't mutually exclusive but can exist together as we wait for God's resurrection in our lives. Key Quote: "The opposite of sin is not virtue, but praise. The opposite of sin is remembering that God is goodness." Referenced Resources: "Big God Little Devil" by Dr. Shan Tobin Father Raniero Cantalamessa (Preacher to the Papal Household)…

People in this episode

Host: Adam Cross

Topics covered

• grief
• gratitude
• Catholic spirituality
• theological insights
• mental health
• Scripture

Keywords

• grief
• gratitude
• Catholic
• spirituality
• mental health
• theology
• St. Paul
• Father Raniero Cantalamessa

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Big God Little Devil

More episodes of The Catholic Therapist

• Your Intrusive Thoughts Don't Define You: The Truth About Catholic OCD · May 25, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Why Do Catholics Struggle to Speak Up? The Theology of Assertiveness · May 18, 2026 · 8 min
• Catholic Therapist Explains the Holy Spirit's Role in Healing · May 7, 2026 · 9 min
• Your Body Isn't the Enemy: Theology of the Body, Shame & Sexual Freedom · February 24, 2026 · 49 min
• Yep, You Can Hear God's Voice Today! · February 17, 2026 · 14 min
• Finding Hope and Healing Through Catholic Therapy: An Interview with Katelyn Smedley · February 3, 2026 · 32 min